Coupling for bands or the like



July 29, 1947. c. GOLDBLATT COUPLING FOR BANDS on THE LIKE Filed Aug. 51, 1944 I I 1 1 I 1 I I I I u n I 1 I I I I n 7 straps, wrist bands for teriorate quickly Patented July 29, 1947 PATE T" orrics COUPLING FOR BANDS 0R 'l HE LIKE Charles Goldblatt, New. York, N. Y.

Application August 31, 1944, Serial No. 552,149

- This invention relates to clasps or couplings for watches, belts, suspenders or the like. and more articularly to an adjustable coupling or clasp for joining overlapping strap members in coupling engagement.

My invention is concerned with supplanting the present-day buckles or clasps for wrist bands, belts, suspenders or like members for joining leather or fabric straps or hands to each other v where these parts are made of metal, resulting in the needfor perforations in the complemental portions of the straps, or in the employment of inflexible clasp parts.

Those devices as known to me, especially in the form of wrist watch bands or bracelets, de-

where the bands or straps are made of leather, fabric'or the like, where these leather or fabric parts are joined by metallic or rigid buckles. The leather or fabric must either be highly flexed or perforated to secure adjustability to the shape 'of the body, such as to the arm or. wrist, and in order to secure adequate engagement of the buckle with the flexible leather or fabric portion. Thus, in my exper'ience, the use of buckles or clasps of metal with bands of leather or fabric, has undesirable qualities which it is the object of my invention to overcome.

It is an object of the ends. of straps made of leather or like material, a coupling or "clasp which is adjustable to the size of the body of the wearer, as required in connection with wrist watch bracelet bands, which retains ally the flexible qualities of the straps of which the bands are made and provides a wide range of adjustability, to accommodate the straps to the individual wearer.

It is further an object of my invention to provide a coupling for straps made of leather or like material which eliminates any metallic contact with the body of the wearer and the use of perforations which tend to weaken the tie members, resulting in a high degree of. flexibility and adjustability.

It is a further object of my invention to propenders or the like, a coupling or clasp which retains, to the maximum extent, the inherent flexibility of such strap elements, while minimizing any tendency to deteriorate the inter-connecting parts caused by perforation or undue bending, and preserving compactness and an aesthetic appearance.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a coupling for the straps-or my invention to provide for 12 Claims. (Cl. 24-206) 2 V bands of wrist bracelets,belt s, suspenders or like articles of apparel,- which is capable of being worked in leather or like material, to preserve'to the maximum extent, the flexibility inherent in this form of strap or band, yet-providing adequate adjustability and variability in size to accommodate the body of the wearer.

Still further objects of my invention reside in the provision of a coupling or clasp for strap parts which is economical in construction and ornamental in appearance.

To attain these objects" and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view exemplifying my device in the form of a wristwatch band';

Figure 2 is a magnified view of the coupling section, with partsbroken away;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling parts;

Figure 4 is a section Figure 2.

Making reference to the drawing, l have illustrated my invention in connection with a wrist watch ill, to the ends H and i2 whereof are attached band or strap elements 43 and M, respectively, which are anchored to. the usual watch pins l5 and it, by loops I1 and 18, in a manner well understood in this art.

The straps or bands It and It have their free ends 19 and 20 joined bya coupling 2 I. For this purpose the strap l3 terminates adjacent the end l9 with a tongue 22-, the side edges of which are formed with serrations 2,3, cutfrom the body of the material of which the strapgsection I3 is formed. The complemental strap section It forms a bottom layer for a pocketportion or retainer taken on the line l--4 of member 24 formed' by attaching adjacent the edges 25 and 26 l4, and whose inner edges 3| and 32 are formed vide for the straps of wrist bands, belts, susedges 25 and 26, respectively, of the strap section described. The strips 21 and 28 may be formed integrally and maybe joined by the mounting strip '35 adjacent the innerendof the pocket portion, though it will be understood that a filler piece may be employedo'f a thickness equal to the strips 21 and 28 to provide auniform layer.

With the strips 721' provided, I superimpose a closure layer comprising stringers 36 and 310i fiexible'material, the side edges of which 38 and 39 are arianged to be spaced strips 2l1and 28,, whose.

and 28 as described thus.

I coterminous with the stop ring 44 toward the able abutment lugs 48 adjacent the ends 45 and secured edgewise. By

' within the pocket to ue 22 and the 3 edges 25 and 26 of the strap l4, and the inner edges whereof, 40 and 4|, are provided with complementary fastener elements 42 and 43, respectively. The stringers 35 and 31 are permanently joined at one end by a stop ring 44. The outer ends 45 and 46 define the open end of the pocket portion 24. A slider 41 serves to inter-engage the complementary fastener elements 42 and 43, in a manner now/ well understood in this art, by sliding from the ends 45 and 46. Suit- 46 serve to limit the movement of the slider 41 to the closed position.

With an assembly of this character superimposed upon the strap section i4, tions together byside stitchings 49 and 56, and end stitching 5| to join together the strap I4 and the strips 21 and 28 and stringers 36 and 21 into a unitary assembly. 7

With the assembly thus provided for attachment in coupling engagement, I flrstaactuate the slider 41 to disengage the complementary fastener elements free fmm each other to the pointwhere the slider is moved adjacent the stop ring 44. In this position the, stringers 36 and 31 may be folded back, as shown in Figure 3. Thereupon the tongue 22 is inserted ln'the pocket 24 to engage the serrations 23 in complementary fashion with the. serrated strips and 34 in accordance with the adjustment desired by the wearer. Thereupon the slider 41 is moved toward the ends 45 and 46, to inter-lock the complementary fastening elements 42 and 43 in engagement with each other, thereby locking the tongue 22 against displacement withinthe pocket portion 24..

I may-provide the slider 41 with an actuating I handle 52 which, in its engagement with the loops 53, serves to actuate a locking cam v64 to prevent accidental movement of the slider 41 from the closed position. The locking cam 54 forms no part of my present invention and is illustrative only, it beingunderstood that when the actuating handle 52 is folded down against the stringers 36 and 31 (see F'igure2) it will frictionally remain in this position and prevent actuation of the slider 41 to the open position unless tilted to release the actuating handle 52, in a manner well understood It will be observed that all-the operative parts of my coupling device are flexible inthe direction where flexibility is of importance in one plane.

and where the bands 13 and I4 are formed of leather, woven webbing, or plastic material, the inherent flexible characteristics of these. materials will be preserved notwithstanding. the

- embodiment of the coupling 2| herein illustrated.

since the stringers 36 and 21 and the strips .21 and 28, though including the interlocking complementary fastener elements, generally a flexible. assembly in the composite. Adequate stiffness to assure the o v forming the tongue 22 asdescribed with the serrations 22, which lie flat portion 24 when in engagement with the serrations 33 and 34, displacement of these inter-enga parts is made impossible since the actuation of elements to the closed position serves to e the'stringers 36 and 31 to the strips 21 and 22 to hold these elements fiat andprevent dislodgement. 7

Furthermore-since the serrations on the strips 21 and 26am fully."

2,424,sso

tion with the straps I unite the sec- 2o exemplified the inter-engaging a to secure by Letters tion having 45 by a slider-actuated series desired binding action is 6t and-havin n ts the inter-locking fastener 70 a layer, one face of which carries strips outlining protected by the closure provided by the stringers 36 and 31, wear on these parts is minimized. superimposing the tongue 22 over the strap or band 14 within the pocket portion 24 assures long 5 life of these inter-engaging parts as there is no sharp bending or abrasion as experienced in straps employing buckles or like clasps.

It will be understood that while I have described and illustrated my invention in connec- ;band or bracelet, the coupling 2| for these parts may be used in other locations where it is desirable to join the terminals of like members, as will be experienced in forming a'belt or joining the adjustable parts of suspenders. Other applications of the coupling which I have described will readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

It will be further understood elements in the form of serrations 33 and 24, the configuration of these inter-enga ing Parts is illustrative only, and other configurations will uggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

g5 In general it will be observed that I have provided an adjustable coupling for straps or other like elements, which is simple and economical, and retains the desirable inherent flexibility oi the materials of which these strap elements are formed.

Having thus trated its use,

described my invention and illuswhat I claim as new and desire Patent is:

. 1. A flexible coupling for the ends of straps 85 or hands to be connected, comprising in combination a tongue portion for one end arranged to overlap the second end to be connected therewith, a pocket portion located on the second end to receive said tongue portion, said pocket poran open end into which the tongue portion extends and a closure for said pocket portion comprising complementary stringers, running longitudinally of the pocket and joined of separable fastener elements.

2.'A flexible and adjustable coupling for the ends of straps or bands to be connected, comprising in combination a tongue portion having 0 a series of serrations for one strap and and arranged to overlap the second strap end to be connected therewith, a pocket portion formed on the second open end into which the tongue portion extends,

A an imder-lay'er and, overlying spaced strips havcomplementary to; said serrations a closure afllxed in overlying posistrips formed oispaced stringers,

ing serrations oi the tongue, tion over said running longitudinally of the pocket joined by go a slider-actuated series of separable fastener ale-- ments.

3. A flexible and adjustable coupling for the ends of straps or bands-to be connected, compris- .ing in combination a tongu member on one end side edges series of. serrations constituting one strap end and arranged to overlap the secondstrap end "to be connected therewith, a pocket portion on said second: end having a mouth to receive said tongue and comprising spaced serrations complementary to said-serra- 'tionsontheside edges oi sure to hold said ends in, overlapping position stringers; running longitudinally oi t e poc et overlying aid trips a ing t e i3 and 14 of awristwatch that while I have end, said pocket portion having an said tongue and a ole-- spaced serrations and complementary fastening means for said stringers.

4. A flexible and adjustable coupling for the ends of bands of a wrist watch bracelet or the like, comprising a tongue portion arranged for attachment to one band end and a pocket portion arranged for attachment to the other band end, each portion being made of flexible sheetin material, said pocket portion having anopen end to receive said tongue portion, and a closure carried by said pocket to bind said tongue against displacement in said pocket portion, comprising stringer tapes and a slider-actuated series of separable fastener elements running longitudinally of the pocket portion whereby flexibility of the coupling is maintained.

5. A coupling for bands to provide variable adjustability by overlapping portions thereof over each other, including a pocket portion on one a d portion having an entranceend for another nd portion and a closure for said pocket portion carried thereby comprising stringers running longitudinally of said pocket, joined by slideractuated separable fasteners to frictionally bind 'said second band portion within said pocket portion.

6. A coupling in accordance with claim 5 wherein said pocket portion and said second band portion each includes edges of interengaging strips having serrated edges for complementary engagement of said serrated edges along their lengths.

7. A coupling for leather bands or the like for wrist Watch bracelets or the like, one hand portion being formed with a tongue portion, the other band portion being formed with an open ended pocket to receive edgewise said tongue portion and a separable fastener closure for said pocket portion running longitudinally thereof and transverse of the mouth of the pocket.

83*A coupling for leather bands or the like, for wrist watch bracelets or the like, comprising a pocket portion to receive a tongue portion or the band to be connected, said pocket portion comprising a sheeted material constituting a bottom layer to receive said tongue portion to overlap the same and stringers attached from the side edges of said layer running longitudinally of said pocket, having separable fasteners joining said stringers to each other to form a closure over and bind said tongue portion.

9. A variable coupling for leather bands or the like, for wrist watch bracelets or the like, comprising a pocket portion for one band to receive a second band portion to be connected therewith, said pocket portion having a layer over which said second band portion overlaps, having an open end, longitudinally directed strin ers adjacent the edges of said layer and directed to form a lamination over said first layer and slider-actuated separable fasteners for saidstringers.

portion 6 10. A variable coupling for leather'or the like bands of wrist watch" bracelets or-tlfe like, comprising a pocket portion for one-band portion having an open endrto .-receive a second band portion to be connected therewith, said pocket portion having a layer over which said second Q band portion is arranged to lie in overlapping position, longitudinally directed strips stitched to said layer formed with inwardly directed serrations, and longitudinally directed stringers overlying said strips having slider-actuated separable fasteners.

11.A variable coupling for leather or like bands of wrist watch bracelets -or the like, comprising a pocket portion for one band portion to receive a second band portion to be connected therewith, said pocket portion having an open end and comprising a; layer, spaced strips over said layer, and over which said second hand portion is arranged to lie in overlapping position between said spaced strips, the outer edges of which strips are stitched coterminously with the side edges of said layer and longitudinally thereof and having their inwardly directed edges formed with serrations, and a closure overlying said strips including longitudinally directedspaced stringers with their outer edges aflixed co-terminously with the edges of said layer and with their inner edges having slider-actuated fastener elements.

12. Avariable coupling for joining the leather or like band portions of wrist watch bracelets or the like comprising a retainer member for one band portion having. an open end to receive a second band portion to. be connected therewith in adjustable overlapping position, said retainer member having. a bottom layer over which said second band portion lies to form a second layer, longitudinally directed stringers aflixed adjacent the edges of one or said layers anddirected to form a lamination over said last mentioned layer, and. fasteners carried by said stringers.

CHARLES GOLDBLA'I'I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number slider actuated separable 

